Western cyclone. [volume] (Nicodemus, Kan.) 1886-1887, 1887-02-10
HOSPITAL HORRORS.
Natchmen, Nurses, and Physicians OF the
Cook County Hospital Said to lie Very
Negligent and Incompetent.


Negligent and Incompetent
CHICAGO, Jan. 25.-Bltter and loud
complaints are being made by scme Of
the patients at the county hospital.
Charges are made OF an inefficient med
lcal stall that leaves the poor and unfor-
tunat9 70 suffer in agony, with no relief
from pain except that which NAV be af-
!ortet at the uncertain pleasure Of al
IeGtd irresponsible nurses ana night
VaichmeD. Complaint is made 81 the
food which is said TO be served uD in
lots that prove too small for man with
broken leg and too much 10y far for a
| person with weak stomach. Against
| nurses and watcbmeD, negligence is
charged or what is almost the same
thing, ineficiencoy.
A moro serious charge however, than
any of the above is made. Criminal
careIessness being alleged, by which,
within the past week or two an unfortu-
nate person received q soothing syrup
that sent him to the lard where the day
light never fades. Many of the patients
are allowed to do Tor themselves what
seems best unto them, medical attend
ance being withdrawn for days at a
time.
/ one man who had been operated up
on for peculiar disease was bandaged
up ana left to himself for week. The
clothes became tTksome after time, be
sides having become saturated with the
matter that Oozed from the larcera-
tons. They also gave forth a strong
smell that was very obnoxious to the
patient himself, besides causing discom-
fort for those persons who were removed
from him three or four cots. The suf.
ferer asked one Of the medical staff to
| take off the bandages, but his request
was denied. The patient begged to be
released from them many times, but no
attention was paid, and at last, unable
to endure the sickening od0r and filthy
condition of the clothes the patient
tore them off his body himself and cast
them upon the floor, where they lay fol-
q time unheeded by any Of the attend
ants. No other Dandages were pat on
and his wounds were not even examined
by any OF the staff, and the patient SAYS
TIC owes his almost complete restoration
to these facts. 4 patient says that enc
night only short time ago fellow was
brought i'll here and three doctors looked
at mal. l don't know whether they
performed an overation or not. After
studying on him they went away. That
was o'clock at night. Long about
l O'Clock in the mornng the fellow hc
gan to moan awfully. He mu-t have
been suffering a good deal of pam. He
Kept OH groauiug for a time and then
the Waterman came in.
"What's wrong with you" says he.
Tie sick mau went right on with has
groaniDg.
"What ye 2roaning for?" again asked
he Waterman. TIE man groDIed right
on, his p4iu making it so that he could
not hear.
I'll fix you al right; you'll stop
your noise. said the watcbman, and he
Ie.tthe ward. He came back IN min
ute or two and gave the gr0anDg man
something. Bout threc-q quarters of an
hour later he was earned out on a
stretChev. His noise was stopped, and
some Of the hands sand he had got chlor-
al. ! asked a nurse who had seen tie
matter with the moaning man and he
said he had e collar button in his car"
\ number Of other patients told a
s2mcwha. similar story. Tie hospital
attendants deny every allegation though
they admit that the hospital is very
crowded.